UNH Press Release: Former University of New Hampshire men's hockey standout Ralph Cox '79 has been named to the list of the ECAC Hockey 50th anniversary top 50 players. Cox was part of the fourth of 10 segments of honorees. Cox is UNH's all­time leader in goals (127) and points (243) and is the only player in program history to compile 70­-plus points three consecutive seasons.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, ECAC Hockey has comprised a group of its top 50 players to recognize the storied history of the league and honor its significant players. The top 50 players were determined by a selection committee of former coaches and media members. These honorees were tallied from 145 players (47 defensemen; 73 forwards; and 25 goaltenders).

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Cox, a two­time All­America selection (1978-79), finished his career as one of the top players in program history. He was a two­time ECAC All­Conference First Team (1978­-79) and was the ECAC Player of Year in 1979. Cox led UNH to the league title in 1979 with 42 goals and 74 points in 34 games. Cox was New Hampshire's leader in goals three consecutive years and was the only player to score 40 goals in season ­­ accomplished twice (1978­-79). He was inducted into New Hampshire Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986.

The fourth segment of honorees includes: New Hampshire forward Ralph Cox, Wildcats' all­time leader in goals (127) and points (243) and only Wildcats player to compile 70­plus points in three consecutive seasons; Trevor Koenig, goaltender at Union, 1997 ECAC Hockey Goaltender of Year and Dutchmen record­holder in goals­against average (2.03) and save percentage (.931) in season (1997); Rick Meagher, forward, Boston University, a four­time league champion (1974­-77) and the only BU player ever to be named a three­time all­America (1975­-77); Cornell forward Lance Nethery, the Big Red's all­time scoring leader in assists (180) and points (271), who averaged 2.44 points per contests as collegian; and Lee Stempniak, forward Dartmouth, led the Big Green in scoring (points) three consecutive seasons (2003-­05) and three­time recipient of Dartmouth's Phelan Award as team most valuable player (2003­-! 05).

All current and former teams' impactful players, including those from Boston College, Boston University, New Hampshire, Middlebury, Army, etc. were reviewed in comprising the list of candidates for the special team. Five players from the top 50 all­-time team will be released every two weeks throughout the season leading up the championship in March 18­-19 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Throughout its history, ECAC Hockey has been home to seven NCAA men's championship teams, witnessed over 15,000 games, produced more than 500 National Hockey Leaguers, nearly 300 All­Americans, three Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners, and over 1,100 student­athletes who have earned All­Academic honors since 1999­2000, the first year the league recognized these individuals.